We Never Had It So Good... (1 Viewer)

[Brian Thibodeau]

As regular DVD allowed me to purchase nearly every film I ever wanted to own, and then some, I'm not sure I'll make the switch to HD-DVD. No other format has allowed me to put together such a wide-ranging collection with such above-average quality across the board. No doubt HD-DVD will be better, but I don't think spending another decade RE-collecting the same films all over again is that appealing. Might be to some of the newer converts who won't have big DVD collections by that time.

Shit, I sound like an old man at 34! If it comes right down to it, I'll stock up on a few regular DVD players (coded and code-free), which should be even cheaper by then and use 'em until I drop dead. Even if I end up with capabilities for HD (TV, etc.), I just can't justify buying everything all over again. Surely regular DVDs will still display on an HD monitor? I can't see them becoming obsolete as quickly as did laserdisc, not with nearly 5 times the available titles (possibly including the porn).

But, I suppose anything's possible; there was a time I honestly believed I'd be well into my 50's before I had ALL my favourite movies in a superior digital format. And that didn't include TV shows and Anime and Hong Kong films that I just assumed would have to suffice on VHS and what measly import LDs I could get my hands on. Boy how things have changed. If they change again, though, I think the impetus for a lot of collectors to change along with it will be far less consuming.

 

[Ernest Rister]

"Might be to some of the newer converts who won't have big DVD collections by that time. Shit, I sound like an old man at 34! If it comes right down to it, I'll stock up on a few regular DVD players (coded and code-free), which should be even cheaper by then and use 'em until I drop dead. Even if I end up with capabilities for HD (TV, etc.), I just can't justify buying everything all over again."

You WONT buy everything else all over again.

a) Your existing TV is going to die, someday. By that time, you may have NO CHOICE but to buy an HDTV.

b) Your existing DVD player is going to die, someday. By that time, you may have no choice but to buy an HD-DVD player.

c) HD-DVD is supposed to be backwards compatibile. You'll only re-buy the titles on DVD that you choose to.

d) Once you eventually own an HDTV (and you will) and an HD-DVD player (and you will), will you be able to resist the opportunity of purchasing an HD-DVD copy of Lawrence of Arabia to screen on your own home theater? And once yu make that leap, how long will it be before you start picking up HD versions of Citizen Kane, Star Wars, Singin in the Rain, Fantasia, Amadeus, The Wizard of Oz, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Toy Story, Fellowship of the Ring, etc?

 

[Steve Schaffer]

I already own a very nice HD-ready tv, but it lacks DVI inputs. Nowhere have I seen any indication that any of the upcoming HD-DVD players will output an HD scanrate via component outputs, nor do I have much faith that any sort of converter box will become available to let me use my current expensive HD-ready set to display HD-DVD.

There are thousands if not millions of HD enthusiasts in the same situation I am in.

When HD-DVD appears we will be faced with not only the investment in a new player, probable much higher prices for the HD dvds themselves, but also the cost of replacing our tvs, most of which will be nowhere near ready for retirement by any other criteria.

Having seen many movies in both 480p from standard dvd and 1080i from Showtime and HBO HD, and not having seen an earthshaking improvement in pq on the HD versions, I will find it difficult to justify the several thousand dollar premium I would be required to pay to get into HD-DVD.

To a certain degree I suspect that this major investment requirement will relegate HD-DVD to a niche market not dissimilar to that once occupied by LD, at least in the early years of it's availability. Disc prices will be significantly higher due to lower volume of sales, and I seriously doubt we'll see sub-$500 HD-DVD players for quite some time for the same reason.

If some genius overcomes Hollywood's paranoia and makes it possible for HD-DVD to be compatible with the millions of HD-ready sets already in homes but lacking DVI connections, this new format will meet with a great deal less sales resistance.

I am not against HD-DVD, and would no doubt rebuy many of my current titles in the new format, but the expense of replacing not only my movies and player but also my TV places this format well beyond the point of it being a justifiable upgrade until the day my tv dies, perhaps 4 or 5 years after HD-DVD becomes available. I believe many of us with less than unlimited budgets feel the same way.

 

[RickER]

I got into LD in 1983, i was 21 then. In about 15 years i had only made it to 150 titles on LD. A good chunk of them were the $100 plus box sets that when were ported onto DVD only cost $20. I never regret my LD years as i had so many good years with them. Even now i have to hang onto my Star Wars box set and my animated Star Trek among others. I have about 15 of my 150 titles left on LD. In 7 years of DVD i am at over 600, and out about the same cash as i was my 150 LD's. And i do remember those early DVD demos...they sucked!

 

[Ernest Rister]

"To a certain degree I suspect that this major investment requirement will relegate HD-DVD to a niche market not dissimilar to that once occupied by LD, at least in the early years of it's availability. Disc prices will be significantly higher due to lower volume of sales, and I seriously doubt we'll see sub-$500 HD-DVD players for quite some time for the same reason."

I saw some VHS-D units already selling at $499 last Christmas.

Fight it. Doubt it. Advocate it. Doesn't matter. It's coming. Like trying to whistle in a wind tunell...

 

[TheLongshot]

Probably because they aren't selling a whole lot of them.

I see HD-DVD in the same position as DVD-A and SACD. Unless the consumer really sees a clear advantage, they won't see a reason to upgrade. DVD is probably going to be good enough for the general consumer for a while.

Jason

 

[Mark Zimmer]

The success of HD-DVD is going to depend on a lot of things that we can't determine for certain now.

For instance:

1. What will the price of the discs be? If they're LDesque $79.95, they will indeed be a niche market.

2. What titles? Studios are understandably very, very nervous about allowing perfect digital masters into the public's hands. I suspect they will be very leery of letting things go HD-DVD for quite some time.

3. Will they really be backwards compatible? So far all signs point to yes, but many a slip, etc.

Yes, there are quite a few titles I'd probably buy on HD-DVD, but I'd guess that most of my collection is "good enough" at DVD quality. Much of it's old silents, pre-1950 material, or cheaply made Eurotrash, and it's just not going to benefit all that much from an HD upgrade. But sure, 2001, LOTR, Dr. Phibes, Manhattan, you bet.

It's certainly going to make being a reviewer difficult again; back when DVD was new, the quality difference was so huge over VHS that it made every transfer look A+ quality; now things that looked great then look very shabby now. The eyes will need to be retrained again.

 

[Terry H]

You got that exactly right. If it requires a connector my current set doesn't support I won't be "upgrading" until my set must be replaced. Hopefully, that won't be for many years.

 

[Nelson Au]

This thread got me to look at eBay for grins as I have the 3 Criterion James Bond LD's with audio commentary. I'll not likely part with them as I treasure them along with the Bond DVD box set. I was surprised to see them there for such a low price! I saw one copy each of Dr. No and FRWL for $5.00! One copy of Goldfinger for $27.00. These were with the audio commentary, but I didn't check if FRWL had the commentary.

 

[JonZ]

"I just love how there is always an initial hostility to a new format because of the purists' devotion to an aging previous format."

I remeber being like that. I loved my LDs and had a "Yea yea yea Ill believe it when I see it" attitude towards DVD.

After the launch of DVDs,my friend came over with his 2 hour old DVD player and 3 discs - I cant remember which - and I instantly saw the difference and began saving for a DVD player (they were expensive at the time).

I think I paid around $450 for my Sony thru Crutchfield at the time.

"We've never had it so good"

You aint kidding. You know we're spoiled when people are complaining about a 3 hour DVD being a flipper.

"But, I suppose anything's possible; there was a time I honestly believed I'd be well into my 50's before I had ALL my favourite movies in a superior digital format. And that didn't include TV shows and Anime and Hong Kong films that I just assumed would have to suffice on VHS and what measly import LDs I could get my hands on."


Brian, Ive been pleasantly suprised with everything thats been released. There was stuff I had on VHS I thought Id NEVER see on DVD(Especially Remastered Run Run Shaw flicks )

Im glad I was wrong.

 

[Andre Bijelic]

Having already gone from VHS to LD to DVD, I don't think I'll be re-buying all that many titles on HD-DVD.

I found the difference in picture quality between 480i on a 32" set to 480p on a 46" HD set, to be night-and-day. I've found the difference between 480p and 1080i on the same set to be noticeable, but not nearly as dramatic.

I'll probably end up repurchasing some true epic titles - "Lawrence of Arabia", "Apocalypse Now" (but only if the original cut is available), "2001" etc., but that's about it.

 

[Jesse Skeen]

I still don't get all the people who dumped their laserdiscs when DVD came out- I've got a combo player and most of my LDs still look great- of course I haven't upgraded to a 16x9 set yet, but even the few movies I've rebought on DVD (usually for no side breaks and multichannel sound) I've held onto the LD. I'm an obsessive collector-type though

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I had the same comment just like the poster above... until I bought my 46" 16:9 TV... all my LD looks like junk compared to the equivalent title on 16:9 enhanced DVD.

 

[JonZ]

Jesse,
I used the say the same thing.

A 16x9 set makes a huge difference Now when I put in a non anamorphic disc, I notice it.

Im still buying the 16x9 rerelease versions of some of the nonamamorphic discs I had.

 

[Amy Mormino]

We certainly live in a blessed age for movie-buying. I certainly would have never guessed as a kid that I could have acquired such a large movie collection (over 100 and ever-growing) and one that I can carry with me in my overseas work in Korea and the UK. I doubt that I could have afforded even a fifth of the movies I have now on laserdisc prices.

 

[Ian_H]

My reason for getting into LD was so that I could buy Dead Alive. At the time it was priced for rental and $40 was a bargain compared to $105. Granted I did have to pay $500 for the player. I topped out at about 300 discs by 1998 and I still have about 150. Mostly titles I don't really care enough about to upgrade and a bunch that aren't out on DVD yet. I have about 60 Hong Kong films that havn't seen the light of day on DVD yet.

--Ian

 

[Brian Thibodeau]

Same here, only less. When DVD came out, I knew the first day I read about it that it would kick LD into the grave. Of course, a part of me denied it since I'd spent so much on a rather small LD collection. The only saving grace for me was that the chinese LD rental places in Toronto almost simultaneously started unloading their discs for as little as $5 a piece, long before the mainstream record and video shops started reducing the price on American LD stuff. They saw the writing on the wall and they bailed while they still could. Ironically, by the time LDs REALLY started to hit bargain bin prices, I was so firmly established with DVD that I just couldn't be bothered. As a fan of Hong Kong cinema, those cheap LDs, however, were golden, and as Ian mentions, many of them are still unavailable on DVD. However, I have replaced a few of them with VCDs.

Nonetheless, I've no doubt I'll HAVE to adapt to HD equipment someday, particularly if it's the only thing available, but if it's reverse compatible, I'll keep my 2000 DVDs. A non-anamorphic presentation of some cheesy cheerleader-cannibal-space-monster-zombie movie might look like shit on my big HD TV, but then if the film IS shit in the first place, I'll still know where to laugh...